The Practical Use of Fracture Mechanics

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xiii

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2. Introduction

   • David Broek

   Pages 1-21

3. Effects of cracks and notches: collapse

   • David Broek

   Pages 22-47

4. Linear elastic fracture mechanics

   • David Broek

   Pages 48-87

5. Elastic-plastic fracture mechanics

   • David Broek

   Pages 88-122

6. Crack growth analysis concepts

   • David Broek

   Pages 123-167

7. Load spectra and stress histories

   • David Broek

   Pages 168-207

8. Data interpretation and use

   • David Broek

   Pages 208-242

9. Geometry factors

   • David Broek

   Pages 243-281

10. Special subjects

    • David Broek

    Pages 282-331

11. Analysis procedures

    • David Broek

    Pages 332-361

12. Fracture control

    • David Broek

    Pages 362-390

13. Damage tolerance substantiation

    • David Broek

    Pages 391-423

14. After the fact: fracture mechanics and failure analysis

    • David Broek

    Pages 424-442

15. Applications

    • David Broek

    Pages 443-484

16. Solutions to exercises

    • David Broek

    Pages 485-513

17. Back Matter

    Pages 515-522

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This book is about the use of fracture mechanics for the solution of practical problems; academic rigor is not at issue and dealt with only in as far as it improves insight and understanding; it often concerns secondary errors in engineering. Knowledge of (ignorance of) such basic input as loads and stresses in practical cases may cause errors far overshadowing those introduced by shortcomings of fracture mechanics and necessary approximations; this is amply demonstrated in the text. I have presented more than three dozen 40-hour courses on fracture mechanics and damage tolerance analysis, so that I have probably more experience in teaching the subject than anyone else. I learned more than the students, and became cognizant of difficulties and of the real concerns in applications. In particular I found, how a subject should be explained to appeal to the practicing engineer to demonstrate that his practical problem can indeed be solved with engineering methods. This experience is reflected in the presenta­ tions in this book. Sufficient background is provided for an understanding of the issues, but pragamatism prevails. Mathematics cannot be avoided, but they are presented in a way that appeals to insight and intuition, in lieu of formal derivations which would show but the mathematical skill of the writer.

• composite
• cracks
• damage
• fatigue
• finite element method
• fracture
• fracture mechanics

• FractuREsearch Inc., Galena, USA

  David Broek

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